Snowblower help

[road_rascal]

Older Toro 8hp (824 model 38080)- this is our shop snowblower. After running it for 15 minutes under load it starts popping/ sputtering/ missing. I replaced the plug, removed and cleaned out the carb, adjusted the main and idle jets to spec (I have the factory manual). Looking at the log sheet for this unit last year I replaced gas tank due to a crack in it and at the same time replaced the fuel lines and shut off valve. Oil level is good and the cooling fins are clear. I can't get this thing to run right. I thought it may have had a bad tank of gas so I drained and dumped that, put in fresh fuel with a bit of Seafoam. Still does the same thing after about 10-15 minutes of running under load. Easing back on the throttle the popping/ sputtering goes away- it never does backfire though. What am I doing wrong here? I got a lot of snow to clear

.

 

[tmorris1]

Tank not venting?? Will it run better on 1/4 choke when this happens?

 

[Sparkman]

Maybe something electrical is getting heat soaked and starts acting up. What kind of ignition does it have?

 

[road_rascal]

Gas tank is venting properly, it doesn't run any better on any of the choke settings. It has solid state ignition- Toro parts diagram calls it Solid State ASM. I'm still working on it...

 

[Sparkman]

I would try carefully spraying some cold spray on the electronic module when it starts acting up and see if it stops. Also the coil.

 

[Craig in Canada]

I have a 1986 38080 (not sure how many years the model covers). I know that 10-15 minutes seems a bit long but it's not just getting starved for fuel under full load, is it? You checked for kinking in the lines and that fuel flows through the new valve well? No blockages at the tank exit, like a clip not quite in the right place pinching the line? A scenario like this would cause it to consume all of the fuel in the line before having problems - lightening the load would then allow the line to refill.

Just a thought....

Craig.

 

[road_rascal]

I checked the fuel lines- no kinks, and like I said, the tank, lines, and shut off valve were replaced last year. I let it sit for about an hour and ran it again. This time it starts acting up after about 5 minutes. I'm begining to think it's getting too much fuel because when it starts sputtering I quickly get a whiff of fuel (mmmmm). I'm going to check the float level. To try and get at the module I'd have to pull half the engine apart to get at it, so I don't know how to cool it while it's running. If I can't get it running right I'll just send in to one of our local shops. It's not my nickel and I'm not going to waste any more time looking at at. I have to replace a drive belt on another one of our 824's. Arrgh!!!

 

[andyd]

pin hole leak in the float?????????? That was the cause of the carb troubles in my latest dump find powered by Tecumseh

 

[road_rascal]

I'll have to look at it next week when I get back to work. Thanks everyone for the replies. This particular blower is about 20-25(?) years old so the carb may just need a general rebuild.

 

[dwendt44]

Could it be running a little rich?
Some electronic controls/switch boxes are heat sensitive, and could #@$%! out when hot; hard to diagnose.

 

[Slick 55]

Sounds like a bad coil.

 

[Bill Kapaun]

Sounds like there might be a bit of water in the tank. I'd throw in a couple oz. of gas dry and see what happens.

 

[road_rascal]

I thought it may be water in the gas tank, but I drained that and added fuel from a different container (we have four 5 gallon gas cans at our shop for equipment). I did add a little bit of Seafoam and the blower still ran cruddy. My next shop/ yard day (not working in the control room) is on Wednesday. I'll see how much a coil is and if it's fairly inexpensive I may replace it and go from there.

 

[Doc8404]

Quote:

---

pin hole leak in the float?????????? That was the cause of the carb troubles in my latest dump find powered by Tecumseh

---

+1

 

[road_rascal]

OK- a pinhole leak. Are you talking about the actual float itself or the inlet needle? I remember when I took the carb apart the float didn't appear to have any holes in it, and fuel didn't spill out of it. I'll check it again.

 

[andyd]

The float, best test is to submerge it in some gas. If bubbles appear........

 

[Bill Kapaun]

Best test is to shake it and listen.

 

[road_rascal]

Thanks for the tips. I won't have a chance to look at it until next week.

 

[Doc8404]

take the float out and shake it as Bill said...and anyway, it should be very light.